Downtown developer's trial set to start Dec. 11

The trial of downtown property developer Dominic Marchionda and his affiliated businesses on 105 criminal counts is scheduled to start Dec. 11.

Magistrate Dominic DeLaurentis of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday accepted the written not-guilty pleas of Marchionda, 58, of Poland, and the companies.

Marchionda was to be arraigned Tuesday, but waived the court proceeding Friday. Also Friday, Marchionda was booked at the county jail and released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.

The case was assigned to Judge Maureen Sweeney.

A county grand jury indicted Marchionda and five companies he runs Oct. 2 on 105 counts including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, aggravated theft, tampering with records, telecommunications fraud and receiving stolen property.

The indictment accuses Marchionda of a Ponzi scheme “to funnel government money” to the developer through the businesses “to live his lavish lifestyle and enrich himself.”

He is accused of improperly spending at least $600,000 from city funds on personal items.

The investigation accuses Marchionda of misusing money obtained from the city as well as state and federal governments for the Flats at Wick student housing complex and Erie Terminal Place and Wick Towers downtown apartment projects.

The crimes are alleged in the indictment to have occurred between May 1, 2009, and Jan. 1, 2016.